Uterine bandage



Patanted Sept. 19, 1893 o. Tv.. 0111.111011.l UTERINB BAND'AGE.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUS F. OHLRICH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

UTERINE BAN DAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,249, dated September 19, 1898,.

Application filed May 12, 1893. Serial No. 478,976. (No model.)

portion to the abdomen against the uterus;`

and it relates, particularly, to an improvement on a construction of such a bandage,

wherein the abdominal padded portion is supplemented by a pad supported on a band adapted to extend between the legs and be fastened at its opposite ends'to the rear and front of the abdominal section and thus cause the pad it carries to bear upward against the perineum.

My objects are to provide a construction of the last-named pad which shall enable it to be applied in a manner to produce peculiar advantages, whatever the construction of the abdominal section with which it is used, but particularly in combination with my construction thereof involving certain improved details, whereby the efficacy of the co-operative parts of the entire appliance is enhanced.

Referring to the accompaning drawings- Figure l isa perspective view, partly broken, of my improved appliance, and Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of a broken portion of t-he same.

B is the waist-band, which I prefer to form of a single Width, adequate for comfort, (in contradistinction to being formed, as is common, with two narrower strapsg) and it may comprise any suitable material, that employed by me being lined canvas, bound along the edges and having stitched upon its outer surface strengthening trimmings fr of leather.

To one end of the band B is fastened, as4

by buckling, the abdominal section A, wider than the Waist-band and preferably of theV general shield-shape illustrated, whereby the lower tapering edgefu may, when the bandage is applied, bear downward against the pelvic bone. The section A may be formed of and trimmed with the same materials as the band B, though in its center there should be an elastic insertion q.

From the opposite endof the waist-band extend tongues p to engage with buckles p on the adjacent end of the section A.

On the inner side of the section A, and flanking the elastic insertion q, are pads C, C, preferably of the shape illustrated, (resembling,somewhat,truss-pads) whereby they present approximately convex inner edges to conform lengthwise more orless to the sides of the uterus, against which they are intended to bear, the pads being so placed as to converge laterally toward their lower ends Where they should, moreover, be thickest. I make the pads C yielding, by stuffing a covering of buck-skin with cotton, or the like; though they may be harder and formed of any suitable material.

To the apex, or lower tapering end of the abdominal section A, I fasten, as by buttoning at straps o on buttons o', the perineumpad D preferably of the shape shown,which is V-shaped and which should be formed of comparatively soft materials, such as rubber or rubber cloth for the exterior and a filling, say of cotton. I do not, however, limit the device D to any especial material forforming it, the invention therein consisting, more, in its general double-pad construction wherebyit is adapted to operate in a particular manner hereinafter described.

To the apex, or rear end of the pad, or more accurately stated, double pad, D, is fastened a strap, or double strap, n, to pass lbackward between the legs and fasten, as by buckling, to the rear portion of the waist-band E.

The bandage is applied by fastening it about the waist in a manner to apply the section A to the abdomen and bring the pads C to dank the uterus toward the neck-portion thereof, the apex v of the abdominal section A thereby bearing against the pelvic bone. The straps o are adapted to permit the pads D to reach to the rear of the exterior of the genital organ, whence, with the V Shaped construction shown, they diverge, thus avoiding obstruction of the opening, the sides bearing, when the pad is fastened, upward directly against the outer labia and therefor indirectly against the perineum, whereby the uterus is supported from below.

IOO

From the foregoing description of the construction and manner of operation of myimprovement, it will be apparent that it performs, by co-operation of the parts, not only the supporting functions for anti-iiexion and lateri-lexion of the uterus, and in cases of pregnancyand even hernia,as other-such bandages do, though in a manner less efficacious than my improved structure, but it also performs its supporting function in the case of prolapsus uteri, by the particular manner in which it is caused to exert upward bearing against the ieshy parts between the legs.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a uterine bandage, the combination with the waist-band having a padded abdominal section, of a band to pass between the legs and fasten at opposite ends to the waistencircling portion, and a V-shaped pad D fastened to the said band to bear upward, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A uterine bandage comprising, in combination, the waist-band B containing the abdominal section A provided on its inner side with the pads C, formed and converging substantially as described, and the V-sh'aped pad D strapped at its diverging ends to the abdominal section near its lower tapering edge and at its converging end to the rearportion of the waist-band, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

CLAUS F. Ol-ILRICH.

In presence of- M. J. FROST, W. N. WILLIAMS. 

